Jay Buckmaker | thebuckmaker.com

Web hosting is, quite simply, how one’s page is stored “on” the internet. A web host provides the necessary storage space for a person’s web page. Web pages, while ephemeral, do need to be stored somewhere so that people can easily and quickly access their data. It is not simply possible to leave a web page on a personal computer, since not only is that computer not always turned on and connected to the internet, it does not have the necessary software and connections to enable people to search for and connect to the web site itself.

Web hosting is offered by a great number of services. Advances in data and storage technology mean that this service is extremely affordable, especially for those who need only a simple setup in order to operate a blog or personal website. These hosts permit people to “lease” their server space and bandwidth and thus purchase a small spot on the internet. It is the same principle behind renting a storefront in a mall. The mall offers essential services such as parking, advertisement and electrical amenities, while the renter is responsible for their own storefront and paying the rent. The difference of course is one of scale, a website requires a lot fewer resources since it doesn’t exist in the physical world, and people do not actually visit it so much as they download the information stored with it.

There are a great variety of web hosts on the market today and it is possible for bloggers with blogging software or a little bit of HTML to make themselves a very nice website capable of fitting within the restrictions and requirements of their web host. Most hosts offer a number of tiers of service in order to avoid selling customers more space and bandwidth than they will actually need, and some even specialize in specific fandoms, hobbies and interests. Professional hosts also help a website to be found in search engines and picked up by those looking for it, increasing the site’s visibility and relevancy.